Wilson ICA H2O Turbine Cleaner

ABSTRACT

A hand tool apparatus for cleaning pool tile and plaster pool stains. The apparatus is made of chemical resistant plastics and a hydro turbine. The apparatus body houses two ports. One port is for the water intake line. A second port is for the suction line coming from the pool pump system. The suction line from the pool pump system then connects to the invention (hand held tool). The invention houses a hydro turbine. A detachable abrasion member is mounted at the end of the turbine shaft. The hydro turbine is activated by using pool suction from the pool pump system. A 3-way valve controls the water intake flow which in turn controls the desired RPM&#39;s (revolutions per minute). The combination of RPM&#39;s and abrasion member results in removal of unwanted calcium buildup on swimming pool tile or swimming pool plaster.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates in general to hand held cleaning devices and more particularly, to harness hydro power from the pool pump systems suction hose. A hand-held tool uses a hydro turbine to the required RPM's in combination with the abrasive member attachment apparatus for cleaning pool tile and the like of plaster stains.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Although a great number of highly sophisticated and complex devices have been developed for cleaning the water in swimming pools, only a few rudimentary implements are available for removing the calcium and lime deposits, oils, grease, scum and the like which tend to build up on the tile walls of pools along with plaster stains. These implements include pumice stones, hand held scrub brushes, and various chemical cleansers or abrasives which the pool owner must rub onto the tile surface, generally while standing in the pool or while kneeling or crouching on its edge. Unfortunately, the laborious nature of this hand-scrubbing process tends to dissuade people from cleaning their tiles as frequently as they should. Thus, the layer of accumulated deposits becomes thicker and harder to remove with time, resulting in added labor and aggravation for the owner of the pool.

One prior art attempt to solve this problem is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,004,312 to Eason, which relates to a tool for washing concrete surfaces and swimming pool walls. The tool of Eason includes a round brush member rotatable disposed within a hollow open-ended housing. A hollow tubing portion with a handle element formed at one end is affixed to the housing, with the longitudinal axis of the tubing.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,755,845 to Coult provides a frictional driven rotating cleaning apparatus wherein manual directing of the apparatus imparts rotation to an associated brush within the apparatus.

U.S. Pat. No. 396,473 to Bell utilizes a hand-held grill cleaner wherein a brush is rotatable mounted to a lowermost forward end of the apparatus.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,324,015 to Head sets forth a repositionable tile cleaner wherein the apparatus includes a housing mounted upon a castor for repositioning of the apparatus about the swimming pool apron, with a downwardly directed rotatable brush for cleaning of the pool tile.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,992 to McKervey provides an apparatus for swimming pool tile cleaning wherein a hand-held tool in the shape of a “L” configuration includes a downwardly directed rotatable brush for cleaning of tile adjacent swimming pool apron, with an injector organization to direct a cleaning fluid to the surface of the rotating brush.

Portion also includes a fitting for attaching a hose to communicate fluids thereto. To operate the tool, fluid from the hose is directed through the tubing element and on to a plurality of fin elements provided on the back of the brush member, imparting rotation thereto. One problem with Eason's device is that the angle of the brush member relative to the handle makes the tool more suitable for cleaning horizontal surfaces such as pool floors than for the vertical walls of a pool. Another problem with the device is that it requires attachment to a source of pressurized water, which increases the weight of the tool and limits the amount of distance over which the tool can be carried. Still another problem with the device is that it lacks versatility; i.e., it can only be used for cleaning certain types of surfaces, and thus may not merit its cost to the consumer.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,578,013 to Case, U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,068 to Lester et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,208,753 to Lewis, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,570 to Brock. All of the above relate to tools having rotary brushes suitable for a wide variety of uses such as scrubbing and polishing of floors, utensils, and furniture, and cleaning the exterior surface of automobiles and airplanes. However, none of these prior art cleaning devices would be suitable for use on swimming pool tile, for a variety of reasons. For instance, a number of the devices are electrically powered, which makes them hazardous to use near water. Others are pneumatically or hydraulically powered, which requires connection to a remote source of pressurized air or water. In addition, the brush angles make them inconvenient for use on vertical walls. Still further, like the device of Eason, they are limited to a single basic function, and would cost more than their occasional use by a pool owner would justify.

As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be need for a new and improved swimming pool tile and plaster stain cleaning apparatus which can be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved hand-held cleaning tool uses available hydro power of the pool pump system and a detachable abrasion member. The abrasion member is adapted to be connected to the shaft of the hydro turbine. In this preferred embodiment, the abrasive member would be threaded directly into the hydro turbine shaft housed in the handheld tool. The abrasion member comprises of various grades of abrasion, having a substantially cylindrical and/or flat outer surface. The abrasion member is also provided with a mounting portion such as an axially extending shank to screw into the drive shaft of the Hydro Turbine and or a Chuck to secure the detachable abrasive. This embodiment of the invention is effective for removing especially thick solid deposits of calcium and plaster stains which do not respond to treatment with a bristle-type brush.

To use the device for cleaning the vertical side tile walls of a swimming pool, it is most beneficial for the operator to stand in the pool in order for the abrasion member to have direct contact of the surface being cleaned. It is preferred the abrasion member be above pool water level. Operator actuates the hydro powered turbine, by control of the water control valve, on the device in order to rotate the abrasion member. Operator may then move the device slowly around the perimeter of the pool until desired parameter of pool has been cleaned. In order to clean different types of surfaces, operator may substitute different types of abrasion members and may hold the tool handle in different positions relative to the surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary abrasion apparatus, enabling operator to clean the vertical side tile walls of a swimming pool while standing in pool.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a pool tile cleaning apparatus with a plurality of interchangeable abrasion members. The interchangeable abrasion members would include various grade types for the removal of calcium build-up to polishing pool tile.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention, as well as the invention itself, may be more fully understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the top view of the cleaning apparatus of the present invention with the 3-way diverter valve in the “ON” position.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the bottom view of the cleaning apparatus of the present invention with the detachable abrasive product attached.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the internal workings of the present invention, followed by numerical system to identify each part described in the preferred embodiment. [1] Front housing of the turbine cleaner 2 Rear housing of the turbine cleaner 3. Is a 3-way diverter valve 4 H2O Turbine 5. Grommet 6 Detachable abrasive member 7. Rear turbine bearing 7A. Front turbine bearing 8. Silicone rubber seal 9. and 9A. are both self-tapping screw pilot holes.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bottom of the invention with call-outs for the hose connections. [10] When the suction hose from the pool filter is applied to the outlet the water is drawn up through the 11. the pool water in-take which will activate the rotation of the H2O Turbine. 

I claim as my invention:
 1. a hand-held tool which houses a Hydro Turbine which is activated by using the suction line from the pool cleaner and a water intake hose from the pool water.
 2. A drive shaft mounted for rotation within hand held tool which is connected to the Hydro Turbine.
 3. A detachable abrasive member which screws into shaft connected to the turbine or use of a chuck to attach abrasive disk or member.
 4. RPM is controlled by a water flow control valve which regulates the water flow from the water intake line through the Turbine to the pool pump suction line, one of these types of a valves could be used, 3-way Ball valve, Butterfly valve, Spear valve, Gate valve, Diaphragm valve, Globe valve, Check valve, Solenoid valve.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, is Hydro powered using various types of water turbines to create the desired RPM's using a suction line from the pool pump system.
 6. Any one of these Reaction Turbines-VLH, Francis, Kaplan-Propeller-Bulb-Tube-Straflo, Tyson, Gorlov, could be used with various results of RPM's
 7. Any of one these Impulse Turbines-Waterwheel, Pelton, Turgo, Crossflo-Michell-Banki or Ossberger, Jonval, Reverse overshot wheel, Archimedes screw turbine, Barkh turbine could be used with various results of RPM's.
 8. The apparatus in which said abrasion member comprises of various grades for scrubbing thick and hard calcium deposits off the vertical side walls of a swimming pool tile and plaster stains. The apparatus of claim 1, in which as a hand-held tool using hydro power to rotate the abrasive disk or member to remove unwanted material from pool tile or pool plaster. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said using detachable abrasion member to clean the vertical side walls i.e. tile and or stains on plaster of a swimming pool. 4,004,312 January 1977 Eason 4,202,068 May 1980 Lester et al. 4,208,753 June 1980 Lewis 4,237,570 December 1980 Brock, Jr. 4,242,794 January 1981 Peterson 4,324,015 April 1982 Head 4,335,481 June 1982 Slayman 